What are the challenges in maintaining vineyards that wine makers face?
The grapes need to be grown in climatic conditions similar to that in France. The foothills of Nandi Hills in Dodballapur, 45 km from Bangalore, is an ideal region to cultivate grapes. We have imported 35 varieties of cuttings from France and planted in our vineyards and from this we have short-listed seven types. Grapes are the key raw material in the production of wines and for a wine manufacturer uninterrupted supply of grapes is a must to ensure smooth production. The biggest challenge is water, which is a problem if monsoon fails resulting in low levels of water tables. There have been instances when land was vacated for want of water. Another task is to control insects that attack the vineyards. In this regard, preventing insects is preferred over spraying insecticides as it might leave residue in the wine. Could you give us an overview of Grover Vineyards? Grover has had the expertise of growing and maintaining vineyards for the last eight years. We can assess the quality of win
